Computer enclosure

ABSTRACT

A computer enclosure includes a panel and a covering piece. The panel defines an expansion slot. A restricting piece is formed on the panel below the expansion slot. A receiving cutout is defined between the restricting piece and the panel. A covering piece includes an elongated portion and an insert portion extending from a bottom end of the elongated portion. The insert portion forms an elastic protrusion. The elongated portion of the covering piece covers the expansion slot. The insert portion is received in the receiving cutout. The elastic protrusion is elastically bent by the restricting piece and secures the insert portion of the covering piece between the restricting piece and the panel.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to computer enclosures, and particularly to a computer enclosure providing coverage for expansion slots thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

In order to upgrade the operating capabilities of a personal computer, a plurality of expansion cards is operatively installed in an enclosure of the personal computer. The expansion cards include network cards, sound cards, graphics accelerator cards, multi-media cards and others. The expansion cards may be installed in the enclosure during manufacture or after.

A plurality of slots is defined in a panel of the enclosure for mounting the expansion cards. A plurality of covering pieces is attached to the panel to cover the slots and provide shielding against electromagnetic interference when the slots are vacant. Often, each covering piece is L-shaped with an elongated portion and a bent portion extending perpendicular from the elongated portion. The elongated portion covers a corresponding slot, and the bent portion is fixed to the panel by screws. However, it is inconvenient to mount the covering piece on the panel using the screws.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a panel of one embodiment of a computer enclosure and a covering piece thereof.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a covering piece of an embodiment of a computer enclosure.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a covering piece of one embodiment of a computer enclosure.

FIG. 4 is an assembly view of covering pieces mounted on the panel of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a computer enclosure includes a panel 50 and a covering piece 10 for expansion slots of the panel 50.

The covering piece 10 includes an elongated portion 11, a bent portion 12 extending perpendicular from a top end of the elongated portion 11, an insert portion 13 depending from a bottom end of the elongated portion 11. Opposite sides of the insert portion 13 are stamped to form a pair of elastic protrusions 131 thereon. The protrusions 131 extend perpendicular to the insert portion 13.

The panel 50 defines a plurality of expansion slots 51. A pressure board 53 is pivotally mounted on the panel 50 above the expansion slots 51. A support piece 58 is formed on the panel 50 above the expansion slots 51. A plurality of restricting pieces 54 is formed below the plurality of expansion slots 51, and each expansion slot 51 corresponds to one restricting piece 54. A main portion of each restricting piece 54 is parallel to the panel 50, and defines a receiving cutout 56 between the restricting piece 54 and the panel 50.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, during attachment of the covering piece 10 to the panel 50, the covering piece 10 is moved to the panel 50 with the elongated portion 11 covering one expansion slot 51 of the panel 50. The insert portion 13 of the covering piece 10 is received in one corresponding receiving cutout 56. The elastic protrusion 31 resists the restricting piece 54, and is elastically bent by the restricting piece 54 perpendicular to a direction of the insert portion 13 received in the receiving cutout 56. Then, the bent portion 12 of the covering piece 10 is placed on the support piece 58 of the panel 50. The pressure board 53 rotates to bias bent portion 12 on the support piece 58 to secure the covering piece 10 on the panel 50.

Referring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of a covering piece 20 is shown. The covering piece 20 includes an elongated portion 21, a bent portion 22 extending perpendicular from a top end of the elongated portion 21, and an insert portion 23 depending from a bottom end of the elongated portion 21. A middle portion of the insert portion 23 is stamped to form a curved elastic protrusion 231 thereon. The protrusion 231 extends perpendicular to the insert portion 23.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the covering piece 20 is secured on the panel 50 same as the covering piece 10. The insert portion 23 of the covering piece 10 is received in the receiving cutout 56, the curved elastic protrusion 231 is elastically bent by the restricting piece 54, and the bent portion 22 is biased by the pressure board 53.

Referring to FIG. 3, another embodiment of a covering piece 30 is shown. The covering piece 30 includes an elongated portion 31, a bent portion 32 extending perpendicular from a top end of the elongated portion 31, and an insert portion 33 depending from a bottom end of the elongated portion 31. The insert portion 33 is bent in a folded shape. The insert portion 31 is folded perpendicular to the insert portion 33.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the covering piece 30 is secured on the panel 50 the same as the covering piece 10. The insert portion 33 of the covering piece 10 is received in the receiving cutout 56, and is elastically bent by the restricting piece 54. The bent portion 32 is biased by the pressure board 53.

In the above embodiments, the insert portions of the covering pieces are bent by the restricting pieces to sandwich the insert portion of the covering pieces between the restricting pieces and the panel. Therefore, the covering pieces can be firmly and conveniently secured on the panel, while being easily removed.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A computer enclosure, comprising: a panel defining an expansion slot therein, a restricting piece formed on the panel below the expansion slot, and a receiving cutout defined between the restricting piece and the panel; and a covering piece comprising an elongated portion and an insert portion extending from a bottom end of the elongated portion, the insert portion forming an elastic protrusion thereon; wherein the elongated portion of the covering piece covers the expansion slot, the insert portion is received in the receiving cutout, and the elastic protrusion is elastically bent by the restricting piece and secures the insert portion of the covering piece between the restricting piece and the panel.
 2. The computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein the panel has a support piece, a pressure board is pivotally mounted on the panel, a bent portion extends perpendicular from a top end of the elongated portion, the bent portion is at least partially located on the support piece, and the pressure board applies pressure to the bent portion.
 3. The computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein the protrusion extends perpendicular to the insert portion.
 4. The computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein opposite sides of the insert portion form the elastic protrusion thereon.
 5. The computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein a middle portion of the insert portion forms the elastic protrusion thereon.
 6. The computer enclosure of claim 1, wherein insert portion is in folded shape to form the protrusion.
 7. A computer enclosure, comprising: a panel defining an expansion slot therein, a receiving cutout defined adjacent to a first end of the expansion slot, a pressure board pivotally mounted on the panel, the pressure board is adjacent to a second end of the expansion slot; and a covering piece comprising an elongated portion, an insert portion extending from a first end of the elongated portion, a bent portion extending from a second end of the elongated portion, and an elastic protrusion formed on the insert portion; wherein the elongated portion of the covering piece covers the expansion slot, the insert portion is received in the receiving cutout to bend the elastic protrusion by the panel to secure the insert portion between the restricting piece and the panel; the pressure board rotates to bias the bent portion on the panel to secure the bent portion on the panel.
 8. The computer enclosure of claim 7, wherein a restricting piece is formed adjacent to the second end of the expansion slot, and the receiving cutout is defined between the restricting piece and the panel.
 9. The computer enclosure of claim 8, wherein the restricting piece resists the elastic protrusion to bend the elastic protrusion when the insert portion is received in the receiving cutout.
 10. The computer enclosure of claim 7, wherein the protrusion extends perpendicular to the insert portion.
 11. The computer enclosure of claim 7, wherein opposite sides of the insert portion form the elastic protrusion thereon.
 12. The computer enclosure of claim 7, wherein a middle portion of the insert portion forms the elastic protrusion thereon.
 13. The computer enclosure of claim 7, wherein the protrusion has a bent. 